Sussex-Lisbon Area

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Genealogy: Family Histories

Andrew Watson Family

   Compiled and Edited by Michael R. Reilly

Last Revised 06/17/2005

1. ANDREW¹ WATSON was born Abt. 1796 in Perthshire, Scotland, and died 07 Apr 1835. He married CATHERINE (KATHARINE ROGERS) RODGERS 11 Dec 1820 in Kilspindle, Perth, Scotland (Source: IGI Individual Record.). She was born Abt. 1803, and died 23 Jun 1875 in Age 72 (Source: Lisbon Central Cemetery headstone inscription.).

More About CATHERINE (KATHARINE ROGERS) RODGERS:

Burial: Lisbon Central Cemetery

Emigration: 14 Aug 1848, Arrived New York, age 43, F, departed Glasgow, Scotland on the "Pilgrim"

Residence: 1860, Living with son John in town of Lisbon

More About ANDREW WATSON and CATHERINE RODGERS:

Marriage: 11 Dec 1820, Kilspindle, Perth, Scotland (Source: IGI Individual Record.)

Children of ANDREW WATSON and CATHERINE RODGERS are:

2. i. GILBERT² WATSON, b. 20 Mar 1822, Scotland.

ii. JANET WATSON, b. Abt. 1826, Scotland.

More About JANET WATSON:

Census: 1850, May have been in 1850 town of Summit working as a servant ?

Emigration: 14 Aug 1848, Arrived New York, age 24, F, departed Glasgow, Scotland on the "Pilgrim"

3. iii. JOHN ALEX WATSON, SR., b. 19 Dec 1827, Scotland; d. 30 Dec 1916.

iv. ELIZABETH WATSON, b. Abt. 1832, Scotland.

More About ELIZABETH WATSON:

Emigration: 14 Aug 1848, Arrived New York, age 18, F, departed Glasgow, Scotland on the "Pilgrim"

v. ANDREW WATSON, b. Abt. 1834, Scotland; d. 09 Dec 1916, Cairo, Egypt.

Notes for ANDREW WATSON:

January 4, 1917, page 1 - John Watson obit, mentions his brother the Rev. Andrew Watson, an Egyptian missionary, died a few weeks ago. December 9, 1916 in Cairo, Egypt.

More About ANDREW WATSON:

Emigration: 14 Aug 1848, Arrived New York, age 14, M, departed Glasgow, Scotland on the "Pilgrim"

2. GILBERT² WATSON (ANDREW¹) was born 20 Mar 1822 in Scotland (Source: IGI Individual Record.). He married CYNTHIA COLE. She was born 12 Dec 1831 in Compton, Quebec, (Lower) Canada.

Notes for GILBERT WATSON:

1870 Federal Census

Gilbert in Black Creek, Outagamie, Wisconsin

Cynthia Cole ? (IGI Ind Record), 39, W. Canada (Lower Canada)

A. J. , 18, Michigan

Ella, 8, Wisconsin

W. W. , 4, Wisconsin

M. M., 2, Wisconsin

Abbie, 1, Wisconsin

1880 June 1 Federal Census Black Creek, Outagamie, Wisconsin

Gilbert has died 22 SEP 1875 IGI Ind Record

Cynthia (Sintha), age 47

Ellie, 17

Minna or Minnie M., 12

Abbie R., 11

Gilbert L., 5

Marriage to Cynthia About 1850 Of, Grafton, Ozaukee, Wisconsin ? Why a son in Michigan abt 1852 or married in 30 JUL 1848 , Walworth, Wisconsin ?

Cynthia b. 12 DEC 1831 , Compton, Quebec

Waukesha Freeman, Real Estate Transfers, October 12, 1899, page 7.

United States to Gilbert Watson, 40 acres, sec 20 (or 29), Waukesha, patent. dated Feb. 1, 1848, by James K. Polk, president.

More About GILBERT WATSON:

Christening: 07 Apr 1822, Kilspindle, Perth, Scotland (Source: IGI Individual Record.)

Emigration: 06 Jul 1841, Arrived New York with brother John, on the Peruvian from Dundee, Scotland, he was age 20.

Occupation: 1860, Master Mason

Children of GILBERT WATSON and CYNTHIA COLE are:

i. SARAH E.³ WATSON, b. Abt. 1850, Michigan.

ii. ANDRES J. WATSON, b. Abt. 1851, Michigan.

iii. ANNA C. WATSON, b. Abt. 1853, Michigan.

iv. IRA G. WATSON, b. Abt. 1856, Wisconsin.

v. JOHN WATSON, b. Abt. 1846, Canada.

 

3. JOHN ALEX² WATSON, SR. (ANDREW¹) was born 19 Dec 1827 in Scotland, and died 30 Dec 1916. He met MARY E. RODGER, SR. 15 Dec 1853, daughter of ROBERT RODGER. She was born 16 Feb 1832 in Scotland, and died 21 May 1916 (Source: Lisbon Central Cemetery headstone inscription.).

Notes for JOHN ALEX WATSON, SR.:

Mr. and Mrs. John Watson, among the most prominent residents of Waukesha county and pioneers of the town of Lisbon celebrated their golden wedding at their home in Lisbon one day last week, surroounded by family and friends. Both Mr. and Mrs. Watson were born in Perthshire, Scotland. Mr. Watson in 1827 and his wife three years later. In 1841 Mr. Watson came to this country and settled at Buffalo, New York, and in 1843 he came to Waukesha county and settled in Lisbon. Mrs. Watson's maiden name was Mary Rodger and she also came with her parents to America in an early day and settled in Lisbon. The young couple were married at the Rodger home near the present village of Sussex in 1853, and have always made their home in that town. Six children were born to them, of whom the oldest, Robert, died many years ago. The surviving sons and daughters, all of whom helped to celebrate the golden wedding are A. G. Watson of Antioch, Ill.; John A., of Ashland; James R., and Mrs. C. J. Will of Lisbon and Miss Katherine of Milwaukee.

Mr. Watson served three years during the war of the rebellion, being a member of the twenty-eighth Wisconsin. Both himself and wife are active members of the M. E. church. They have lived thrifty, industrious, useful lives, and are enjoying a vigorous old age, widely known and respected. Waukesha Freeman, Thursday, December 24, 1903

July 6, 1841 - Arch Roger, age 31, on same ship Peruvian as Watson brothers.

John Watson is listed as "Jn. Watson", age 13.

More About JOHN ALEX WATSON, SR.:

Burial: Lisbon Central Cemetery

Census: 1850, Listed as John Walson (interpreted as), age 23, with brother Andrew, 16, and mother Catherine, 49.

Elected 1: Republican

Elected 2: Aft. 1865, North Lisbon School board

Elected 3: Bef. 1871, Lisbon Town Assessor

Elected 4: 1871, Lisbon Town Chairman

Elected 5: 1891, Director of the Lisbon Mutual Insurance Co.

Emigration 1: Bet. 12 May - 04 Jul 1841, He and brother Gilbert embarked from Dundee, Scotland on the sailing ship "Peruvian", took 9 weeks to arrive at New York.

Emigration 2: Jul 1841, By way of the Hudson River and the Erie Canal, made their way to Buffalo, NY, where John worked for 2 years.

Emigration 3: Abt. Oct 1843, Arrived by steamer in Milwaukee and went to relatives in Town of Lisbon. Loaned out his only $10 and lost it at age 16.

Emigration 4: 1850, Watson brothers had enough money to send for other family members in Scotland.

Military service: Bet. 1862 - 23 Aug 1865, Trained at Camp Washburn in Milwaukee; Was in Co. F., 28th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment with Waukesha District Attorney Calvert White as his commanding officer.

Naturalization: 27 Mar 1849, Became US citizen.

Occupation 1: Bet. 1843 - 1846, Worked on a farm for wages.

Occupation 2: 1846, Bought 80 acres at $1.25 per acre in the northeast corner of present day North Lisbon and Hillview Rds.

Occupation 3: 1847, Acquired another 40 acres in the Bark River watershed

Religion: Lisbon United Presbyterian Church

Residence 1: 1871, Built a large two-story brick home (in 1989 lived in by George Zysk family) on North Lisbon Rd.

Residence 2: Own 175 acres in Town of Lisbon

Notes for MARY E. RODGER, SR.:

Mrs. Mary Rodgers Watson, wife of John Watson, of the town of Lisbon, died at the age of eighty-four years last Sunday morning. She was born in Perthshire, Scotland, Feb. 16, 1832, and came to America in July, 1841. She married John Watson in 1853. Her death occurred on the farm that he took up from the government in 1843. She is survived by her husband, who is in his eighty-ninth year, and by five children; Andrew G. Watson of Antioch, Ill., John A. Watson, of Ashland; James R. Watson of and Mrs. Mary Will, both on the home farm in Lisbon; Mrs. Katherine Clapp of Chicago. The funeral was held on Tuesday afternoon from the residence and was attended by all the children and grandchildren of the deceased and by a large number of neighbors and old-time friends. Waukesha Freeman, May 25, 1916, page 8.

More About MARY E. RODGER, SR.:

Burial: Lisbon Central Cemetery

More About JOHN WATSON and MARY RODGER:

Single: 15 Dec 1853

Children of JOHN WATSON and MARY RODGER are:

4. i. ANDREW (ALBERT) GILBERT³ WATSON, b. 30 Jun 1855, Lisbon, Waukesha, Wisconsin; d. 23 Sep 1933, Waukegan, ILL..

5. ii. JOHN ALEX WATSON, JR., b. Abt. 1862, Wisconsin.

6. iii. JAMES R. WATSON, b. 1866, Wisconsin; d. 1949.

iv. CATHERINE (KATHERINE) "KATE" E. WATSON, b. Unknown; m. ? CLAPP.

Notes for CATHERINE (KATHERINE) "KATE" E. WATSON:

1900 Federal Census

Katherine or Catherine E, b. Jan 1875, age 25, living as Stenographer in Milwaukee Ward 7, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

More About CATHERINE (KATHERINE) "KATE" E. WATSON:

Education: 1892, Graduated Carroll College, Waukesha, Wisconsin

v. MARY E. ROGER WATSON, JR., b. Unknown; m. CHARLES WILL; b. 06 Sep 1866, Town of Lisbon, Waukesha, Wisconsin; d. 04 May 1957, Waukesha, Waukesha, Wisconsin.

More About MARY E. ROGER WATSON, JR.:

Education: 1889, Graduated Carroll College, Waukesha, Wisconsin

More About CHARLES WILL:

Education: Bef. 1889, Carrol College

Occupation 1: 1890, Took over Oakwood Farm in 1890, called it "Bonair Farm".

Occupation 2: Abt. 1889, Teacher at Lisbon Plank School.

Occupation 3: Nov 1891, Teacher at District No. 5 school (Source: Waukesha Freeman, Nov. 19, 1891.)

Occupation 4: 1908, Telephone book: Watson & Will Farm

Occupation 5: 1943, Precision grinder, Square D Electric, Milwaukee from age 77 - 81+

vi. ROBERT WATSON, b. Bef. 1855; d. Bef. 1880.

4. ANDREW (ALBERT) GILBERT³ WATSON (JOHN ALEX², ANDREW¹) was born 30 Jun 1855 in Lisbon, Waukesha, Wisconsin (Source: 1860 Federal Census.), and died 23 Sep 1933 in Waukegan, ILL.. He married MARY A. WALLACE 05 Apr 1882. She died 05 Mar 1932.

Notes for ANDREW (ALBERT) GILBERT WATSON:

Albert Gilbert Watson died at the home of his daughter, Libbie, Mrs. Lloyd White of Waukegan, ILL,. on Saturday, Sept 23, after an illness of two or three months. He had not felt well for some time. Examination by a doctor revealed the fact that his blood had become badly poisoned by infection from decaying teeth. A very annoying feature of this illness was a persistent hiccough, present a great deal of the time. On April 5, 1882, he was married to Mary A. Wallace, who died on March 5, 1932. In the fall of 1882, he purchased part of the large farm of Elisha Pearl, southeast of Merton, town of Lisbon, where he lived for about 10 years. Two children were born to them, Lillie and Harvey, during this time. After selling the farm, they moved to Merton village for one winter. In the spring he bought a feed and implement warehouse and business at Antioch, Ill. which he conducted for many years, Later he took up carpentry. Upon the death of his wife he went to make his home with son, Harvey, a druggist at Mundelein, Ill. During the first years at Antioch, a second son was born to them, Leland, who lives at Waukegan. Mr. Watson was born June 30, 1855 at the John Watson home in the town of Lisbon, at that time and until 1871, a log house. He was educated in the common schools at North Lisbon and Sussex and at Carroll academy. He taught school at Sixteen, Lisbon, and Monterey. Two brothers, John A. of Ashland, Wis., and James R., of Sussex, and two sisters, Mary E. (Mrs. Charles Wills) of Lisbon, and Katherine E. (Mrs. John Clapp) of Chicago, also survive him. Waukesha Freeman, September 27, 1933, page 8.

John A. Watson, of Ashland, Wis., with his son Clarence, of Edwards, Wis., came down to the old Watson home (now Charles Will), Monday evening, Sept. 25. On Tuesday morning, taking with them in Clarence's car, Charles Will and James R. Watson, of Sussex, and Mrs Elizabeth Phillips of Waukesha, they drove to Waukegan. to the funeral of Andrew G. Watson, brother of John and James, and Mrs. Charles Will. The funeral came twenty miles to the Antioch M. E. church for the service there, and back about ten miles toward Waukegan, to a fine cemetery at the village of Milburn, where his wife was buried in March, 1932. After interment, all returned to his daughter, Lillie's (Mrs. Lloyd White) home for supper and a social visit. John A. went on to Chicago with Katherine to visit the World's fair. The others returned to Lisbon in the evening. Waukesha Freeman, October 4, 1933, page 8.

It may be interesting to neighbors and friends of the John Watson family, to know that the old tall clock, which always greeted front door visitors at the old home, from its chimney corner on the opposite wall, after Grandfather Robert Rodgers came to live there, fell to the ownership of Andrew Gilbert Watson, the account of whose life and death appeared in the columns of last week's paper, on the death of the latter's parents in 1916. This clock was brought over from Scotland by Grandfather Rodgers in those busy times of home making, set it up in a rather hastily made case which the younger members of the Watson family always thought to be just common pine, it being painted or grained. Andrew on investigation, found it to be largely of Circassian walnut. With the addition of some new material, he rebuilt the case. The old clock is now ticking off the seconds as accurately as ever, in its beautiful rebuilt, dull finish, walnut case at the home of his son, Harvey, at Mundelein, Ill., about twelve miles south of Waukegan. Waukesha Freeman, October 4, 1933, page 8.

More About ANDREW (ALBERT) GILBERT WATSON:

Burial: Sep 1933, Milburn, Illinois

Education: Carroll College, Waukesha, Wisconsin

Occupation: Teacher who became a grain dealer in Antioch, Illinois.

Residence: Nov 1891, Having sold his farm and disposed of his farming implements, he intends to move into the Village of Merton. (Source: Waukesha Freeman, Nov. 19, 1891.)

Notes for MARY A. WALLACE:

Mary A.'s parents were from Northern Ireland. 1930 Census Antioch. Lake, Illinois

More About MARY A. WALLACE:

Burial: Milburn, Illinois

More About ANDREW WATSON and MARY WALLACE:

Marriage: 05 Apr 1882

Children of ANDREW WATSON and MARY WALLACE are:

i. LILLIE⁴ WATSON, b. Lisbon, Waukesha, Wisconsin; m. LLOYD WHITE.

ii. HARVEY WATSON, b. Lisbon, Waukesha, Wisconsin.

More About HARVEY WATSON:

Occupation: Sep 1933, Druggist at Mundelein, Ill.

iii. LELAND WATSON, b. Antioch, Illinois.

5. JOHN ALEX³ WATSON, JR. (JOHN ALEX², ANDREW¹) (Source: 1870 Federal Census, John Alex Watson.) was born Abt. 1862 in Wisconsin. He married JOSEPHINE ?. She was born in California.

Notes for JOHN ALEX WATSON, JR.:

1900 Federal Census June 15-16

John A. Watson, age 37, June 1862, Ashland Ward 7, Ashland, Wisconsin. occ. Hardware In 1910 he's listed as a Retail Merchant. 3-Wd Ashland, Ashland, Wisconsin

Josephine, Dec 1861, 38, b. California

Clarence F., Feb 1889, 11, b. Wisconsin

More About JOHN ALEX WATSON, JR.:

Education: Wayland Academy, Beaver Dam, Dodge County, Wisconsin.

Occupation: Hardware merchant, Ashland, Wisconsin

Child of JOHN WATSON and JOSEPHINE ? is:

i. CLARENCE F.⁴ WATSON.

 

6. JAMES R.³ WATSON (JOHN ALEX², ANDREW¹) was born 1866 in Wisconsin (Source: 1870 Federal Census.), and died 1949. He married MARGARET CAMPBELL MCKENZIE.

More About JAMES R. WATSON:

Education: Carroll College, Waukesha, Wisconsin

Occupation: Teacher, Farmer, and insurance business executive.

Children of JAMES WATSON and MARGARET MCKENZIE are:

7. i. JOHN DONALD⁴ WATSON, b. 08 Feb 1906, Lisbon, Waukesha, Wisconsin; d. 01 Oct 1997.

ii. ISABEL WATSON, b. 1907; d. 1926.

7. JOHN DONALD⁴ WATSON (JAMES R.³, JOHN ALEX², ANDREW¹) was born 08 Feb 1906 in Lisbon, Waukesha, Wisconsin, and died 01 Oct 1997. He married ESTHER RUTH SALTER 13 Aug 1938 in Vernon U. P. Church, Vernon, Waukesha, Wisconsin, daughter of GEORGE SALTER and MARY MARESH. She was born 13 Nov 1916 in Vernon, Waukesha, Wisconsin, and died 29 Dec 1999.

Notes for JOHN DONALD WATSON:

John Watson, b. 1906, living in Vernon township as Lodger with Chester McKenzie family, he works as a Laborer on a Dairy Farm. 1930 Federal Census

John D. Watson, ordination and installation as ruling elder in the Vernon United Presbyterian church congregation.. Mr. Watson is the son of James R. Watson, Lisbon, who is spending the winter at Eustis, Fla. Waukesha Freeman, March 13, 1940

Notes for ESTHER RUTH SALTER:

Watson, Esther Salter

Publication Date: Jan. 16, 2000 Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee

Of Dousman, formerly of Waukesha. Died on Wednesday, December 29, 1999 at home at the age of 83 years. She was born on Nov. 13, 1916, the daughter of George and Mary (Maresh) Salter. Esther was a lifelong member of the Vernon United Presbyterian Church, a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood Chapter A.Q. and a member of the Practical Club. She graduated from the Racine - Kenosha Rural Normal School and, prior to marriage, taught grades 1-8 at Oakdale, a one room country school. Esther's most rewarding hobby was genealogy. She discovered long lost relatives while traveling in Czechoslovakia and later authored a complete family history book. She is preceded in death by her husband John.

More About JOHN WATSON and ESTHER SALTER:

Marriage: 13 Aug 1938, Vernon U. P. Church, Vernon, Waukesha, Wisconsin